BART OKs $3.5 billion ballot initiative to fund repair plan

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board yesterday approved a $3.5 billion general obligation bond measure to fund the agency's repair plan.

BART Board President Tom Radulovich
Photo: BART

Residents still must give their approval of the bond measure on the November general election ballot.

If approved, the measure would provide funds to replace and repair 90 miles of deteriorating tracks and other aging infrastructure. Various physical parts of BART's 44-year-old rail system have reached the end of their useful lives, agency officials said in a press release.

Proceeds from the bond measure also would go toward fixing leaking tunnels, unreliable track circuitry and failing power transmission equipment.

Although record-breaking ridership has provided the fare revenue to carry out many capacity improvements, the cost of capital repair projects has outpaced revenue growth, BART officials said.

"This bond measure is practical; it’s dedicated to fixing what we have," said BART President Tom Radulovich. "We have a responsibility to keep our system safe and reliable while getting the maximum value out of taxpayers' investment."